Hi All
Myself and husband going to visit Egypt Turkey Jordan
Was hoping we could get some advice. We are going in March/April for 3.5 weeks specifically
1) any places e.g museum pyramids Petra etc we need to book very early to avoid booking out?
2) is this safe for most women to organize self tours these three countries (but usually daylight etc)
3) any particular places we should attend that are unique/special
4) whats the best way to see the Sahara
Thanks everyone ☺️
Can only help with Egypt
Anything in a city you can grab a taxi and go yourself. Pyramids, museum etc. Just check need to pre book tickets online etc.
Outside of city - tour is best, for a multitude of reasons, least of all language and safety.
There are several no go areas in Egypt. You should follow local government guidelines regarding these. Entering the desert is one such place. If you wish to go to an oasis or say, El Alamein, a tour is a must. Abu Simbel is also by tour only. Convoys leave at around 4am and it's a long drive with no stops. Alternatively you can fly.
As for women, tourism places will talk and negotiate with you but everywhere else will defer to your Husband.
As for special places, I always preferred Nubia to the rest of Egypt and wished I had spent more time and money in Aswan. It is particularly good for gemstones.
Is it risky to chose taxis…like kidnapping or generally ok if you use registered ones
I never had an issue. Like most countries, the rules around licences apply. There are no meters per se. I haven't been back post Covid but considering their pound is virtually worthless, fares in USD may be the way to go. But we're talking dollars not tens of dollars.
Just came back from Egypt/Jordan - travelling as a married couple (M/F).
Jordan: Pretty safe country, lot's of young women travelling in small groups themselves. We didn't prebook any tours. The only tour we booked on the day was Wadi Rum desert tour. Be prepared for touting at tourist sites, need to learn to say no.
Egypt: As above - no travel insurance will cover you. It's not unsafe as long as you know what you're doing (aka street smarts, understanding a scam that's about to happen etc.). Definitely definitely need to book tours to sites like the pyramids, luxor, etc. (book online for one's with good ratings - we booked these the day before). Egypt is all about the hustle - they will expect tips for everything. Pay them. Even in the organized tours we got taken to tourist traps selling overpriced perfumes, clothes, etc.
Would 100% go to Egypt if you have the chance and are comfortable with the hustle - the sites and history are like nothing else I've ever seen before.
Thanks ! Do you need to book any of the visits well ahead of time? Or a week or two is fine?
I can help with Turkiye. I went solo and self-guided in 2022 for 3 weeks.
1) Most were easily available to book when I was there, including hot air balloons. I used the Turkey Museum Pass which included access to most historical sites across the country.
2) Not female but I found Turkey safe. Scams (by unscrupulous taxis and restaurants) are more likely.
3) Istanbul (Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern), Cappadocia (Hot air balloon and any one of the red/green/blue/yellow tours), Pamukkale, Ephesus. The list can go on but these are the essentials.
You can move between cities using intercity buses. They are frequent, safe and cheap. Otherwise you can also pay for organised tours that will take care of transports, hotels and even luggage transfers.
https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/egypt
Although most companies will sell you travel insurance the PDS often states if you don’t follows government advice your not covered